A Sherborne man has appeared in court facing an allegation of a serious sexual assault involving a 13-year-old girl.

John Peter Eggleton, 36, of Mulberry Gardens, appeared in the dock before Somerset Magistrates, sitting at Yeovil.

He was charged that between January 13, 2016 and January 17, 2016 at an address in Yeovil he intentionally cause or incited a girl aged 13, not believing she was aged 16 or over, to engage in sexual activity involving penetration.

The defendant did not enter a plea to the offence and the alleged matter was so serious that the magistrates said he must be sent straight to Taunton Crown Court to stand trial.

The court was told that Eggleton had made denials to police over the allegation on a factual basis.

The case was adjourned until May 12 for a pre-trial hearing at Taunton and until then he was released on conditional bail on the understanding he does not contact the complainant directly or indirectly.